Sixteen months after Knox County farmers faced the dilemma of 40 million pounds of unharvested melons, community leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of a new plant. AgroRenew, based in Vincennes, will convert these melons and other crop waste into 100% biodegradable plastic. This facility is the first of its kind, aiming to produce over 2 million pounds of bio-based plastic pellets daily for various products, including plastic bags and single-use packaging. Founder and CEO Brian K. Southern announced that hiring for key roles will begin in late summer, with operations starting in October. Phase one of construction is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025, with full operations and product shipping commencing that year. The facility will be fully completed in 2026, employing over 300 people and shipping 300,000 tons of biodegradable plastic pellets annually. Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County, Indiana Economic Development, highlighted the potential to position Knox County as a leader in the bioplastics industry. Brady Mouzin of Mouzin Brothers Farms noted the benefits for local growers, who can now sell crop waste that would otherwise go to waste. For more information and updates on construction and hiring, visit AgroRenew.org.
